Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1887-03-02

rights always do as please in every
thing. But" returning to her hostess
story, remember, my dear. you have
will do any thing In her power for you.
l must go now, but tomorrow am
coming to see you again. Goodnight"
Goodnight But, Mrs. Bathurst,
you are not going alone. Henry, you
will see our friend home, will you notp"
Certainly, my dear" answered Cap
tain Gerald. who had been silent
listener to the conversation. He felt
that he did not stand as high in the esti-
nation of his caller as did his wife, and
he'felt, too, that once alone with her,
he would have to give an account of
himself, which might be rather en-
barrassing. Still he could not shirk the
duty of offering his escort to one who
had put herself to so much trouble to
serve him.
He was not wrong in his conclusions,
for they had hardly left the house before
his companion began with: II like your
wife very much, Captain Gerald. You
ought to be very good man with such
good woman. I'm glad she didn't
suspect the real object of my visit"
al can never thank you enough for
saving her that blow. Poor thing! she
has had enough to bear. She told you
l threw up my commission and left the
army, but she did not tell you that it
that could not keep from drinking and
and gambling whenever got with a
certain set of fellows, until I listened to
her, and cut loose from them entirely.
That was the reason. And even now,
in spite of the good step and resolu-
tons, / sometimes feel that am fail
ure here, and that there is nothing for
me but gambling or suicide. There,
you see you inspire us both to confide
in you"
Mrs. Bathurst was touched and flat
tered by this second confidence.
During the evening, one neighbor af-
ter another dropped in at John Ba-
thust's. and sat taking around the fire
in rather fragmentary style. Evidently
their interest did not lie within-doors.
They would break off in the midst of a
sentence to listen. or glance out Of the
window, and finally they all filed out
into the clear moonlight, and scattered
about in the pine grove, which made
such black shadows on the snow.
Mother Bathurst looked from her win
dow as they disappeared, and smilingly
resumed her knitting. About eleven
o'clock she heard them re-enter the
house, and she descended to the sitting
room.
"Why mother, not in bed yet'" said
her son.
"No; / wanted to see you after your
evenings work." she replied, with a
twinkle in her bright, black eyes.
"Well, there was no work done, I'M
less you call it work to stand around in
the cold and snow for couple of
hours" said he rather sheepishly
Then you didn't catch your thief
Well. John, I caught your thief"
"Why, what do you mean, motherp"
asked her son, rising from the hearth.
II went over to Captain Gerald's,
and told him that if he needed wood he
could cut all he wanted to on my wood
lot by the swamp, but that he'd better
not come to your wood-pile tonight,
for you were waiting for him. While
you eat your apples and nuts, boys, I'm
going to tell you about my visit to the
Captain"
Mrs. Bathurst told her story so elo-
quently, that the company was very
quiet one when she had finished. After
q pause, her son said:
"Well, it's pretty hard case. OF
course, can't understand why man
should be too proud to come and ask
neighbor for the privilege of cutting his
winters wood-it's done every day-or
why he didn't hunt up work"
''One thing" rs he picked the last
fragment of hickory nut from its shell
1--WE mustn't let him get discouraged
and go back to his old habits, or worse.
I've plenty of light work l can give
him, and Isuppose the rest of you have,
too. But after this / expect he'll be
pretty sensitive; SO guess we'd better
You know, mother, you must make him
feel that we are his friends. Anyhow
we must see him along"
Then he sat thinking. and after look
ing around at his companions, said with
smile: "And since mothers wood
isn't seasoned, suppose, boys, we con-
tribute a few dry logs from my pile to-
nightp"
And once more Mother Bathurst
watched them from the window. This
time they passed out from the pine
grove shadows. each with generous
log on his shoulder, and stole silently
over the snow toward Captain Gerald's
house. ut is better to prevent than
punish crime" she said. "a friendly
warning is a good thing"
The old lady's face showed quiet tri-
umph as she went up to her room, for
she had saved the Captain.
HoweUs Frechette, IN Youths Compa,,-
ion,